Electric sign.



1101878 46. PATENTED FEB. 4,1908. 1). F. MILLER. ELECTRIC SIGN.

AP?LIGATION FILED MAE.14.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

um/mic:

No. 878,146. PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.

D. F. MILLER. ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED MABHM. 1906.

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WITNESSES IHVEHTQR 3W 3 M /W M WIKMW f DANIEL F. MILLER, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

' ELECTRIC SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed March 14, 1906. Serial No. 306.036-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that DANIEL F. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, has invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Electric Signs, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to advertising signswhich are illuminated by electricity.

The object of my invention is to rovide a simple and compact electric sign, t e letters or other features of which may be illuminated successively and the light out Oh successively or altogether.

Another object of my invention is to ef Fig. 4 is'a plan view of the top disk and top artition, the cleats being removed. Fig. 5 18 a detail of one of the conta t rollers. Fi 6 show's an alternativeconstruction in'whic the stationary box is dispensed with. Fig. 7 shows an alternative construction in which the contact rollers are dispensed with.

In the drawings, A is aboX of three or more sides coinposcd'of opaque material exceptwhere the letters or other designs to be shown are located. These letters, 6, 6, are composed of transparent or translucent material, such as glass, mica or cloth, suitably arran ed on the di'llerent sides of box A. BOX is divided into sections by the partitions B, 13, whereby one or more letters or designs may be lighted independently of the others. Box A is stationary and is fixed to any suitable structure as M.

D, D, are disks held together by stand ards 21, 21, and are of a size and are so arranged as to fit inside the circular oriilces'22, 22, in partitions B, B, or to overlap said Onfices, whereby the light of one section cannot pass through to the adjoining sections.

9 is a flanged stud liked to the center of the top disk D by means of bolts 14, 14 and it is supported by a bearing 10 which is suitably Fig. 3 is. 'a sectional elevation through the top disk.

insulated by a plate of slate 13-which is attachcd to and is supported by a cleat 30 which is fastened to the top of'box A.

11 is a spindle fixed to the center of the bottom disk and is supported by a suitable bearing 12. Stud 9 and spindle 11 are provided to permit the framework consisting of disks D, D, D, D, D, and standards 21, 21 to revolve. They are so revolved by means of a motor or clock work L.

Upon. 'the top of the upper disk D is a plate E of insulating material and this late carries a number of strips of copper F, F, F, F, or other conductive material formin concentric arcs about stud 9, one for eac sec tion of the revoluble framework and of different lengths. Between each two disks D, D, is an incandescent light K. More lights may be carried in a section but one only is shown in the drawin Each strip F is connected b a suitable insulated wire 17, with the lig it K in one section of the revoluble framework and each of said lights K is also connected by a suitable insulated wire 18, with one of the bolts 14 which holds together disks D and E and stud. 9. 1 These bolts 14, 14 are suitably insulated except from stud 9 and wire 18 by insulating tubes 15. Surrounding stud 9 is a collar or brush 19 which makes the electrical connection therewith by means of wire- 20 which is attached to one pole of the source of electric power. The cleat 31 fastened to the top of box A, carries a metal strip 32 which is insulated therefrom by a plate of slate 16 and is connectedby a wire 33 with the other pole of the source of electric power. Resting on and in electrical contact with stri 32 anrl fastenedto insulatingplate 16, whic is fastened to cleat 31 are the elastic contact fingers G, G, G, G, and these preferably carry metal rollers H, H, H, H, both so arranged that each roller H will contact with a separate strip F as the framework revolves. It

will be readily seen that as the framework including standards 21, 21 and disks D, D, is revolved by motor L, it carries around plate E with strips F, F, and as the strips 1? successively pass under rollers H, H, a circuit is 0O1I'l]')l6t(l successively fpr the lights in each section ofthe revoluble rramework and so of box A and when by the rotation, the rollers llv get to the ends of strips F, all the lights are cut out at once.

It can be readily seen standards,

that strips F may be arranged in many different ways to produce different effects, as for instance, by the reversal of the arrangement shown, the lights may, all be .turned on together and shut off successively.

the effect of the light, I

, color of light on the letters in each set successively. I

Contact fingers G, G, are preferably made of elastic or springy metal'as a better contact with strips I I, is thereby secured, and rollers H,'H, may even be dispensed with entirely as shown in Fig. 7.

My invention can be placed vertically as shown, or horizontally.

The box A may be done away with en- .tirel as shown in Fig. 6 and the letters may be s own on the panes N,- N, in which case the letters will be lighted successively but i the color of each letter will remain the same.

What I claim as my invention and desire to cover by Letters Patent is 1. In an electrically illuminated sign, a stationary box comprising a sign 'or design formed'b transparent letters or parts on an opaque eld, and apertured opaque transverse partitions in said box, combined with a revoluble framework inside said box and comprising a plurality of disks connected by electric lights carried by and between said disks, a plurality of concentric contact strips of unequal lengths carried by the top disk and each electrically connected with the lights between a different pair of disks, a plurality of contact fingers carried by said box and adapted to make a circuit through the concentric contact strips, suitable connections to complete the circuit for the lights, and means for revolving said framework.

.2. In an electrically illuminated sign, a stationary box comprising opaque sides on which are transparent signs or designs, apertured opaque transverse partitions in said box, combined with a revoluble framework which passes through the apertured partitions in said box and carries corresponding partitions, electric lights carried by and between the partitions in the framework,

means for revolving the framework, electrical'co'nnections with the lights and the source of electricity, and sliding contacts carried by the framework ada ted to make and break the 'circuitsfor the lights.

3. In an electrically illuminated sign, a

stationary box comprising opaque-sides on em sign,

which are transparent signs or designs, apertured opaque transverse partitions in said box, combmed with a revoluble framework which passes through the apertured partitions in said box and carries partitions corresponding with the partitions thereof, electric lights carried by and between the partitions in the revoluble framework, panes of different colored glass arranged about the lights and carried by the framework, means for revolving the framework, electrical connections with the lights and the source of electricity, and sliding contacts carried by the framework ada ted to make and break the circuits for the whts.

4. In an electrically illuminated sign, a stationary outer case comprising a transparent sign, combined with a pluralit of parallel partitions carried by a revolub e framework, a plurality of electric lights interposed between and carried by said partitions, conductors forming a permanent electrical connection between tne li 'hts and a source of electricity, a plurality of contact strips in the form of concentric arcs carried by the top of the framework and each connected with lights between different partitions, stationary contact fingers adapted to rest on top of the framework and to complete the circuit with the source of electricity through the concentric contact strips as the framework revolves, and means for revolving the framework, as described.

5. In an electrically illuminated sign, a stationary outer case comprising a transparcombined' with a plurality of parallel partitions carried by a revoluble framework, a plurality of electric lights interposed between and carried by said partitions, a

plurality of panes of different colored glass arranged about the lights and carried by the a framework, conductors formin a permanent electrical connection between tfieli hts and a source of electricity, a plurality o in the form of concentric arcs carried by the top of the framework and each connected with lights between different partitions, stationary contact fingers adapted to rest on top of the framework and to complete the circuit with the source of electricity through the concerjytric contact strips as the framework revolves, and means for revolving the framework, as described.

6. In an electrically, illuminated si n, a fixed box sign, combined with a revo uble sectional framework carrying electric lights inside thereof, an insulating late carried by said framework, a plurality o contacts in the form of concentric arcs of unequallengths carried by said plate, fixed elastic fingers adapted to contact therewith, electric conductors connecting with said. lights, contacts, and fingers and with the source of electric power, and means for revolving said framework, as described.

contacts '110 7. in an electric sign, a sectional revoluble Work adapted to 0' en and close the circuits lmnimvork', consisting of disks united by' for the difierent lig ts successively. 10' standards, electric lights carried in the differ- In testimonywhereofl affix my signature ent sections, panes of glass disposed about in presence of two Witnesses. I

' the lights in each section, and means for re- DANIEL F. MILLER.

\"olving said irzunework, combined with suit- Witnesses: i a ble electrical connections for said lights, and IARY V. ALLEN, a plurality of contacts carried by the irmne- J OSEPH H. CLARK. 

